Automobile-top



A. D. HEDGES. AUTOMOBILE TOP.

61H01 mug A. D.- HEDGES.

AUTOMOBILE TOPvl APPLICATION FILED DEc.1l5, 19|9.

1,390,555. 'Patentedspn 13,1921.,

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llllllllll'llllllllll :g1/wanton A. n. HEDGES. AUTOMOBILE TOP.

APPLICAUON FILED DEC. l5, 19,19.

1,390,555, Patentedsept. 13,1921.`

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UNITED c1-PF1csp-#fY ABRAHAMD. HEDGES, or LONGABEACH, carri;amara.

To all whom it may concern: i

Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles Y and State of California, have invented'cer-v tain new and useful Improvementsin Auto;

mob'ileflops, of whichl the lfollowing 4is la' I' ance with this inventionand yshown applied to improvements v.in

specification.

The invention relates automobile tops.` g

The object of the present linvention is to improve the construction ofj'automobile tops and more especially the construction of tops shown andV described in' applications Nos. 27 2,270 and 272,271, filed by LAme January 2l,

1919,'and also'that shown and 'describedin application No. 345,103, filedL by me Decem` ber`15,'l919, and'to 'provide a simple, practical one-man top of strong and durable construction adapted to be readily installed on an automobile and capable? of'enabling the flexible cover to bereadily extended toar-l range itV for use, and easilyy folded 'when it is `not desired to usethe same.

A further object of the invention vis v'to provide an automobile top ofthis character equipped' with spring actuated means forengaging the frontof the flexible cover for securing the cover in its extended position and for stretching and maintaining the co-ver in a taut condition', means being providedfor lmaintaining the spring actuated device in a retracted position to release the cover and' enable the latter to be readily foldedl at the back of the automobile.

Another object of the invention is toprovide ali-automobile top 'having the front portion of its frame detachable to enable it to be arranged at the back of the automobile when not in use and provided with' means for securely locking it in its connectedl relation with the fixed rear portion ofthe framework when the flexible vvcover is relievedy of the spring actuated device and it is desired to fold the cover.'

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fullyf described, illustrated lin the accompanying' drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that vary ious changesl in the form, proportion, size and minor details vof constructiomfwithin the scope ofthe appended claims,'may be resorted t0 without departing from the spirity ofthe invention, or 'sacrificingv any -of the Beit known thatlf, ABRAHAM D. HEDGES, a citizen of the United States, residing at advantages thereof;

In the drawing, in whi'chlike" numerals ofy reference designate corresponding parts in to f an automobile body, the latter being partly in 'section and the flexible cover being extended and arranged foruse.

Fig. 2 is a similarview, the flexible cover being; folded and' the slidable springactuatedV Vcover engaging and holding member being held in its retracted position.l

Fig. 3v is a transverse sectional'view of the automobile top. n

, Fig. t is 'an enlarged longitudinal sectionalfvie'w throughthefront portion of one side ofthe framework. Y

Fig. 5 is a detail .transverse sectional view illustrating the construction for securing the spring actuated cover engagingand stretching member in its retracted position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view illustrating the construction Specification of Letterfslfa'tent.v Patented'sepfrlg,71921, I

Application nleafnecember115,` 191af'seriai No. 345,102.

for securingv the detachable front section of the'side memberto the fixed rear." section.

Fig. 17 isa detail perspectivek view of the carrying plug ofthe fixed rear section. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrat ing the construction of the slidable connec" tion between the front .engagingvr member and the wind shieldor post. i

Fig.` V9 is a vdetail sectional view illustrating another form o'f'slidable connection between the wind shieldz and the slidable cover engaging and stretching member.

Fig. l0 is a Sectional view taken along line 10-10 in Fig. 4. I

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illus'tarted the preferred embodiment of the invention, the one-man top comprises in l1`netal,'but maybe constructed of any suitableV material, andthefixed rear section v42 seV of each side member is composed of an upright supporting portion 5 and intermediate curved portion 6 and a frontsubstantially straight portion 7. The rearsection 1s arranged in a yoke 8 and is detachably secured at the lower end of the upright portion 5 by means of a bolt 9 or other suitablek fastening device which passes through a n the upright portion of the fixed rear portion of the side member to the body of the machine.

The detachable front section 3 1s connected at its rear end to the front end of the portion 7 of the rear section by means of a plug 12 anda transverse rivet 13 or other suitable fastening 1 device. The plug 12, which may be tubular7 or any other suitable constructiomis secured within the front end ofthe rear section rof the side member and projects therefrom and is provided at its projecting portion with opposite hooks 14 arranged to be engaged with and disengaged from the transverse rivet 13 by a slight rotary movement of the front section 3. In connecting the front section to the rear section ofthe side member, the front section is slipped on the `projecting stud with the transverse fastening device 13 arranged between the projecting diametrically opposite hooks. The hooks extend` in opposite directions anda slight rotary movement of the front sec-tion will carry the transverse fastening device into` and .out of engagement with the bills ofthe hooks. The iXed charracter 'of the rear section will prevent the same from turningwhen the front section is partially rotated. A. Y

rlhis partial rotary movement of the detachable front section ofthe side member of the framework is also vutilized by carrying a front transverse rivet or fastening device into and out of reversely extending angularly related branches 16 of a longitudinal slot 17 .of a slidable spring actuated cover engaging and stretching member 18. The slidable cover engaging member is telescoped within the front section 3 and is provided withV the said longitudinal slot 17 through which the transverse rivet or pin 15 passes.k The rivet or pin 15 pierces theopposite sides of the front section as shown and slidably connects the member 18 with the 'front section 3. The slidable cover en- Vgaging member 18 is urged forwardly or is adapted to be pressed inwardlyl against the action of the coil spring 19 and it is retained in such position by a partial rotaryl movement of the front section 3 whichpar- Y tialrotary movement carries the pin 15 into the angularly related branches 16 of the longitudinal slot 17 and the rear pin or rivet 20 in engagement with the projecting hooks 14 of the stud 13. This inward movement of the slidable member shortens the side member of the framework and relieves the flexible cover 1 of the tension of the spring 19'and enables a front bow 21 of the flexible cover to be readily engaged with and disengaged from a projection 22 of a depending arm 23 of the slidable member 18. The front bow which is slidably connected with the side members of the frame by yokes or staples 24 is provided near each end with a recess 25 to receive the projection 22 of the depending arm 23 of the slidable `member 18 whereby the front bow is interlocked with the slidable member 18. The staple or yoke forms a sleeve member and slidably embraces the framework and Vis adapted to Vbe readily moved over the same to arrangethe cover in a folded position at thebaek of the body and to extend the cover to the front of the body. When the slidable member is released by a slight rotary movement of the front section 3 the spring urges the slidable member outwardly and maintains the projection 22V in engagement with the recess 25 and also maintains the front section 3 of the side member in engagement with the plug of the rear member so that there is no liability of the cover becoming disengaged from the projection or the front section becoming detached from the rear section of the framework. The front end of the slidable member 18 is enlarged at 26 to provide a partial head which is in flush relation with the front, end ofthe section 3 when the slidable member is'located in its retracted position.l

This provides a smooth surface and enables the bracket 24 of the front bow to slidevreadily onto and off of the arm 23 of the slid-V connection with respect to such movements provided at the wind shield.

The ieXiblevcover is provided at intervals with bows 30 secured to the' flexible cover and to brackets 31 which are provided with yokes or staples 32 slidably embracingthe sideVV member f" of the' framework and 'con-i;

stituting sleeve elements. -The'flexible Vcover is provided at intervalsj between the main transverse bows 3() with 'a plurality of auxiliary bow `members 31Y which are `preferably straight4 andv1 termi-nate short .of the side edges of the flexible cover .which is `shaped.

at the side edges by the curved portions33 of the main bows. The'yokes orstaples provide simplewand cheap sleeve elements for the slidable brackets and folded spring arms 3l1varehinged2to the bracketsat 35 yand arev connectedfwith auxiliary bow members 31 similar` to the hinged-:folded resilient arms:- ofthe aforesaid application, No5k 345,103-,-i The flexible cover is-l movable Vreadily rear-` ward to fold itin the manner described in the said application and the auxiliary bow members leave* the framework and the hinged folding 'resilient armscause the fiexible cover to4 be arrangedin folds, as shown at'the 'back ofthe body. These resilient -arms swing forwardly tothe position illus-V trated in Fig; 1 of the drawing `in the un- 'folding of thecover and operate asY explained 1 in -theV aforesaid application to assist in v vstretching and extending vthe c 'over of the onel-man top. "The topV may beeasily and quicklyl'arranged for Vuse by 4'sliding the rodV 27 through vthe-opening 28 lof the wind shield post 29 and connecting the rear end of the front section-3 and the front end ofl therear section `by introducing the plug into the rear end yof .th'effront section. The slidable Vmember 18 is then pressed rearwardly or inwardly against .they action of the coiled spring 19 and is'locked nfsuch position by a partial rotary movement of the front section :2 which as already, explained engages the rear transverse pin or rivet with the hooks of thev plug rear section'.l This shortens the side member of the lframework and enables the flexiblellcover to bereadily drawn forward and arranged over the framework with the front bow iii-'engagement withthe projections of the depending arms'` ofthe slidable members( A slight rotary movement of thefront section 2 willthenV release the the invention, the vwind 'shield is providedr with a 'fixed forwardly projecting rodl 36 rectangularin cross section and extending through an'opening'37 ofthe depending arm 38 of the slidable member 39'," V'The fixed forwardly projecting rod36 'forms'a guide forV vthe depending,arml 38 ofthe slidable mem-` ber and the operation -i's similar to that heretofore described, the member 39 being permitted to move backwardand forward freely Y and being held against lateral movement.- When a slidable ,rod'isemployed andis guided in an opening of the wind shield, the opening or guiding means may, of course,

be of any desired construction and' atthe Y most convenient point. p l k- While the mainv .bows whichhaveA the curved terminals -for'shapin'g the said portionsv of the curtains are all shown secured to the slidable brackets in the accompanyingl drawings, yet it will be apparentthat either a'main bow or an auxiliary bow free of alV slidable connection with thetop frame lmay be employed and the auxiliary bows may, if desired, be extended at their terminals at Vintervals and shaped similar to the main bows. 'jWhen' the mainbo'ws are free of the frame like the auxiliary bows,v they will ride loose on the top frame andfffold with the flexible cover.J Any ynumber of these main Vand auxiliary-bows may be employed, and they i interval.

Vhat is claimed is :f4 1

1. An automobile topincluding a top frame, a` flexible cover arranged on the top frame, a spring actuated member slidable on and carried by the top frame land connected with the front 'of the flexible cover for stretching the same, means for slidably con-` necting the spring actuated member vwith a may be arranged at any preferred for lockingthe slidable member in afref tracted position to relieve the flexible cover of the spring. Y f- 2. An automobile top comprising a top frame including a side member, a "flexible cover, a slidable spring actuated membercarriedgby the :top frame, means 'carried byl the cover for slidably connecting vit with the side member and for-detachably connecting it with the slidable member, and means forf locking thev slidable member in a retracted:

position against theaction of the spring tov relieve the cover of the said spring.

3. An automobile top comprising a top frame including a side member providedy with a detachable front section, a yslidable spring actuated member carried4 by the front r section and movable inwardly to shorten the side member, a flexible -cover having means for connecting it to the slidable member, and

means for securing the slidable member ina retracted position and for fastening the de# tachable front section to prevent disconnection of thelsame whilethe slidable member` is retracted. p p a f '4. An automobile top comprising a`top frame including a side member 'provided' with a detachable Vfront section, la slidable" spring actuatedv member carried by the'fi'ont l0()V fixed portion of the automobile, andfmeans section and movableinvvardly to shorten the side member, a flexible cover having means for connecting it to the slidable member, and simultaneously;operable means for retaining the slidable member in a retracted position and for locking the front section against removal. Y I

5. An automobile top comprising a top frame including a side member provided With a detachable front section, a slidable spring actuated'member carried bythe 'front section and movable inwardly to shorten the side member, va flexible cover having means for connecting it to the slidable member, and meanssimultaneously operable by a rotary movement of thefront section 'for retaining the slidable member in a retracted position and for locking the'front section against removal. Y

6. An automobile top comprising` a top frame including aside member provided With a detachable front section, a slidable spring actuated member :carried by the front section, and movable inwardly to shorten the side member, a flexible coveri having means for connecting it to the slidable member, and means simultaneously operable by a rotary movement of the front section for retaining the slidable `member in a retracted position and for locking the front section against removal, said slidable front member and front section being also releasable by a partial rotary movement of the said front section.

7. An automobile top comprising a top frame including front and rear sections, one of' Vthe sections being provided With a projecting member fitting in the other section and having projecting hooks, anda transverse pin engageable with the hooks by a partial rotary movement of one oi the sections to lock the sections against relative longitudinal movement, a spring actuatedA slidable membercarried by the front section, and also slidably connected with and guided by a fixed portion of the automobile,

and a flexible cover supported by the topv frame and having means for connecting it With the slidable member.

8. An automobile top comprising a top rframe including a side member having a front detachable section, a flexible cover, a spring actuated slidable member carried by the front section for engaging the cover and slidably connected with and guided by a fixed portion of' the automobile, and means controlled by the rotary movement of the front section for retaining the slidable member in a retracted position against the action of the said spring. l v Y 9. in automobile top comprising a top frame including a side member having a front detachable section, a flexible cover, a spring actuated slidable member carried by the front section for engaging the cover, said iront section havingy a longitudinal slot and provided with angularly related branches extending in opposite directions, and means carried by the front section and operating in the slot for engaging the said branches to retain the slidable member in a retracted position against the action of the spring.

10. An automobile topkcomprising a top frame including a side member composed of front and rear sections, means for'connecting thev sections consisting of a plug having projecting hooks, and a vfastening device adapted to be engaged with `and disengaged from the hooks by a partial rotary movement of the front section, a slidable member operating in the front section and'provided with a longitudinal slot and havingangularly related branch slots, means carried by the front section and operatingrin the longitudinal slot and engageable With the angularly related branches by a rotary movement of the lfront section, and a cover having means for connecting it with the slidable member.

411. An automobile top comprising a top frame including a vside member, a flexible cover, a spring actuated slidable ,member carried by the sidemember, and slidable backwardly and forwardly on the said member and having means for connecting it With the. flexible cover, and means for also slidably connecting the slidable member vwith axed portion ofthe body of anrautomobile at the Windshield thereof.

12. An automobile top comprising a top frame including a side member, a flexible cover, a spring actuated Vslidable member carried bythe side member and having means for connecting it with the flexible cover, a longitudinally disposed rod connected to and arranged in'parallelismwith the slidable member, vand means carried by the body of the automobile for guiding the said rod and for connecting the same With a fixed portion of the body of the automo# 13. An automobile top comprising a top frame includingl a side member, a. flexible cover, a spring actuatedslidable member carried by the side memberv and having means for connecting it With the flexible cover, a longitudinally disposed rod connect- Ved to and arranged yin parallelismV With the slidable member, and means carried by the body of the automobile'for guiding the said rod, and for holding the same against rotary movement to prevent lateral movement of' the automobile top.

14:. An automobile topv comprising a top frame including a side 'member, a spring actuated slidable member carried bythe vtop frame, a flexible cover having means for engagmg the slidable member, a rod connected With the slidable member and polygonal in cross section, and a Wind shield post having a polygonal opening receiving and formf mg a guide forthe said rod.

inthe said guiding means, and a cover provided With means for engaging the slidable` member. y

V16. The combination with guiding' mean carried by the body lof an automobile, 'of an automobile top comprising a top frameincluding a side member, a spring actuated slidable member carried by the top frame and having a depending arm, a vrod connected to the said arm and arranged in parallelism with the slidable member and operating in the said guiding means, andv a cover provided at intervals With means slidably arranged on the side member of the top frame, and a front boW secured to the flexible cover and slidably connected With the side member and movable over the slidable member and the depending arm thereof and engageable with the same.

17. The combination with guiding means carried by the body of an automobile, of an tial parallelism with the slidable member.

automobile top comprising a top frame Vincludingfa side membenja spring actuated slidable'member carried vby the top frame andV having a dependingarm, a rod connected to the said arm andi arranged invparallel- Y ism with .the slidablemember and operating in the said guidingmeans, anda cover provided at intervals vvithmeansl slidably arranged on the side member of the top frame',

and front bovv secured to the .flexible coverand slidably connected with theside member and movable over the' slidablel member andthe depending arm thereof, and 'coacting interlocking means carried by the arm andV the said front bovv for detachably securing the cover to theslidable member.

18. An automobile top including a top frame provided atthe front With a slidable cover engaging member having a depending arm, and means for slidably connecting the- Y 50 depending arm Withthe Wind shield of an automobile, saidmeans including'a .rod carried by one of the parts, and the otherpart being provided With an opening receiving the rod,v said rod being arranged in substanl In'testimony whereof I atIiX my signature..l l

y ABRAHAM D. HEDGES; 

